لَقَد أَرسَلَت حُوَّلاً قُلَّباً

لَقَد أَرسَلَت حُوَّلاً قُلَّباً

يُرى جافِياً وَهوَ خَبٌّ لَطيفُ

يُرى جافِياً وَهوَ خَبٌّ لَطيفُ

She has indeed sent a resourceful, wily man,

You sent a fickle courier

Who seems uncouth, yet is a subtle trickster,

Who seems cold yet is gentle and kind

إِلَينا عِشاءً بِأَن قِف لَنا

إِلَينا عِشاءً بِأَن قِف لَنا

نُسَلِّم فَإِنَّ وُقوفاً طَفيفُ

نُسَلِّم فَإِنَّ وُقوفاً طَفيفُ

To us in the evening, saying, “Stop for us,

To invite us for dinner, saying stop by

So we may greet you; a pause is a small thing.”

For even a brief visit would be pleasant

فَقُلتُ لَها البَيتُ أَخلى لَنا

فَقُلتُ لَها البَيتُ أَخلى لَنا

فَإِنَّ مُقامَ الفِجاجِ الحُتوفُ

فَإِنَّ مُقامَ الفِجاجِ الحُتوفُ

So I said to her, “The house is more secluded for us,

So I said to her the house is empty for us

For lingering on the open roads is death.”

For staying at desolate ruins is depressing

فَقالَت صَدَقتَ وَلَكِنَّني

فَقالَت صَدَقتَ وَلَكِنَّني

أَخافُ العُداةَ وَمَشيٌ قُطوفُ

أَخافُ العُداةَ وَمَشيٌ قُطوفُ

So she said, “You are right, but I

She said you're right but I

Fear the enemies, and my gait is slow.”

Fear the enemies and walking is difficult